President Obama sinks pint in Moneygall's Hayes pub

President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle have sampled Guinness in Moneygall's Hayes' pub on their good-humoured visit to the Offaly village.

The Obamas immediately settled in as though they were regulars, hugging distant relatives and toasting the guests.

In a quip to one of the women behind the bar, Mr Obama said: “You look beautiful. I suspect you don’t always dress up this much.”

Before lifting a pint of Guinness from the counter the president set the tone.

“You tell me when it’s properly settled, I don’t want to mess this up,” he joked.

“I’ve been told that it makes a difference who the person behind the bar is. People are very particular who is pouring your Guinness. I am right about that? You people can vouch for this guy?” he asked the crowd in the bar.

As the president admired his pint and picked it up from the counter, he added: “So it’s quite an art. I want to get it perfect. Sláinte (cheers).”

The president relaxed straight into the pub atmosphere and took a gulp from the pint.

“The first time I had a Guinness was when I was came into Shannon (Airport),” he said.

“It was the middle of the night, and I tried one of these, and I realised it tastes so much better here than it was in the states. What I realised was, that you guys, that you are keeping all the best stuff. I’m very impressed.”

President Obama said the pint was delicious.

“I just want you to know the president pays his bar tab,” he said after spending 25 minutes in the pub.

Not to be outdone by her husband, Ms Obama joined in the bar room banter: “I just have one question: How often have our staff been in here?”

The president reeled off the names of several members of staff, drawing jeers and laughter from the packed pub.